New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-06
THE NEWS IN LONDON.
SPECULATIVE WAR PANICS LIKELY TO BE
CONTINUED.

FOR CONFERENCES WHY LORD RANDOLPH
CHURCHILL GOES ABROAD-OFFICIAL ACTION
ON DIVORCE SUIT REPORTs-DREsS
REFORM LITERARY AND
PERSONAL NOTES.
TBY CABLE To TIE TRIBUNEl
LONDON. Feb 5.-Tho Stock Exchange panic
after the unexpected and violent recrudescencc
of Thursday spent its force and yesterday prices
,oI,icd The French Prime Minister told the truth
when he declared yesterday that not prOspcc" VI
war but Bourse maneuvles were Responsible Ior
the collapse of prices. All over Europe every
rumor has been magnifed. The German loan' an
nounccd weeks ago to balance the budget, was
feannounced as q novelty and the amount en-
larged from perhaps four million dollars to sew
cnty-five million The Rothschlds are alleged to
have been operating for a fail, and people jumped
from this doubtful premise to the more doupG-
fu conclusion that the Rothschilds believed there
would soon be war. The only inference from their
action. if true, is not that they believed war to
be imminent. but that they believed others would
believe it. Full explanations of the calling out OF
The German reserves were then given, but were
unheard amid the yclls Of the "beals. Inc
Bank of England gave proof of its confidence
in the situation by lowering its rate from hvc TO
four per cent. Instantly it was said that this
only showed the Continent was renting money
to England for security. The securities OF coun'
tries which. like Spain, must be far outside OF
any possible theatre Of war, have been run down.
while Russians have fallen but slightly, because
Berlin supports them.
Premier Goblets explanation Of these pho
nomena will not be relished, but no other is ade-
quate. The game may be kept up till the German
elections, which are fixed for February 2l, but II
remains true that the probabilities of immediate
war have been diminishing. Anxiety at the For
eign Office, though great, is less to-day than ID
Eas q week ago.
Meantime "The Standard has raised in a new
form the question of the neutrality Of Belgium
Ghe letter Of "Diplomaticus,' published in that
rapcr conspicuously, is practically an appeal to
England not to interfere should Germany find II
Necessary to invade France through Belgium
Heretofore an attack on Belgium's neutrality
has been supposed to be more likely to come from
France, but "Diplomaticus' hints at the reverse
If this operation "The Standard which GER
calmly does not discuss such subject without
some knowledge of Ministerial opinion, declares
against all efforts by England to protect Belgium
against the use of her territory as thoroughfarc
Tor German forces a prudent resolve at time
when the Ordnance Department is serving out q
If have IN al
The House of Commons is rapidly losing its
hold on public attention. The debate is carried
On for the most part by nonentities or by Irish
members, whom the English public regards as
speaking to foregone conclusions. Yesterdays
tal about Egypt strengthened instead OF weak
sning the Government. Mr.. w. X. Cremer's de-
nand for immediate withdrawal finds no real
support except from fanatics like Sir Wilfred
Lawson or from those Irish who. like Mr.. Red
mond. are supposed to favor anything which may
Hiscredib ENGLAND. Mr. w. II. Smiths declaration
was explicit though not novel England, he said,
will remain in Egypt till her duties there are dis
charged and a strong native government estab-
6shed. Meantime troops are to be withdrawn as
intention is to reduce the force from 1000 to
5000, but not lower. The House sustained this
sensible policy by majority of nearly three to
one.
This has been bad week for conferences. The
meeting Of the original "round table conference.
which was fixed for Thursday, never took place.
Fir William Vernon IIarcourts new conference
Cor this evening at lis own dinner-table has
also melted into air. Lord Randolph Churchill
thc only important person who had accepted the
Invitation, leaves il at the last moment in the
Iurch. Probably Lord IIartingtOn's Newcastle
speech has something to do with the rupture Of
negotiations between Mr.. Chamberlain and the
Gladstonians, which, if they are renewed, must be
pn n basis which leaves Lord Harrington out.
Mr.. Gladstones justification, in his reccnb
rNmc,eenth Century" article, of American sub
scrptons for Ireland, has brought out retor
Of the usual kind from a "West Brton' in "1hc
Times This "West Briton' denies Mr.. Glad
stones statement that the AmcricanIrsh intend
only TO carry public, legal and parliamentary
struggle, and alleges that Mr.. Patrick Ford is the
real author Of the Irish policy and the chief
collector Of funds the object of which may be
Inferred from Mr.. Ford's paper, which teens with
astentatious indictments to atrOcious forms of
murder. These charges certainly not new,
Ind attract little attention.
Lord Randolph Churchlls Journey TO the south
bf Europe is due mainly to depression. the result
Of disappointment. The i'll success Of both his
SPEECHES left him in position he could i'll brook.
His attempt to explain his explanation did him no
good He was no longer for the moment a useful
Friend or formidable foe. He re-